I predicted 15 wins a week and I haven't changed my mind. Of course, considering how my predictions the last couple of years went, it's going to be less than that. Still, that's what I'm sticking to. Hopefully low enough to get the top pick.

i dunno. we won 22 last year but were pretty close in quite a few of them. theres no reason not to believe guys like derozen/jj/ed/amir and even bargs won't be better this year. throw in a new coach and the team finally playing some defense (how much we'll see) and i think mid 20's is a good number.

the mixture of youth getting better and guys on 1 year deals trying to market themselves is pretty enticing. our bench is probably the best its been in recent years.

It's possible that with the back-to-back-to-backs that every team has, that the Raptors could sneak away with a few extra wins since if a team were going to rest their starters against anyone (or to look ahead on the schedule), it would be for the Raptors. But then again, that Miami game last year....no guaranteed wins.

It's possible that in a condensed season, having a 10 man rotation of mediocre players (no matter what # Casey says today) is better than having a talented 7 man rotation- as far as injuries and fatigue are concerned.

And who knows, maybe having a new and respected coach along with some veterans to help lead the way, this team can gel and surprise a few people.

"We only have one rule on this team. What is that rule? E.L.E. That's right's, E.L.E, and what does E.L.E. stand for? EVERYBODY LOVE EVERYBODY. Right there up on the wall, because this isn't just a basketball team, this is a lifestyle. ~ Jackie Moon

It's possible that with the back-to-back-to-backs that every team has, that the Raptors could sneak away with a few extra wins since if a team were going to rest their starters against anyone (or to look ahead on the schedule), it would be for the Raptors. But then again, that Miami game last year....no guaranteed wins.

It's possible that in a condensed season, having a 10 man rotation of mediocre players (no matter what # Casey says today) is better than having a talented 7 man rotation- as far as injuries and fatigue are concerned.

And who knows, maybe having a new and respected coach along with some veterans to help lead the way, this team can gel and surprise a few people.

But I'd rather that they suck.

GOod point. With the condensed schedule, it might make for some weird wins. I also saw in interview somewhere that talked about how condensed seasons like this one, with little training camp, favour veteran teams with established systems and coaches. That way there's little need for teaching. That definitely doesn't describe the Raptors.

Raptors will win 34-36 games, and make the playoffs. I believe we have a better team than last year, we have a better coach than last year, we will be a better defending team, and our young core have all come in stronger, and more mature. Look for the raptors to surprise a lot of teams.

I like this mix of youth and veteran leadership, its exactly what our young core needed, we have true centers on our team for the first time in a while, I think we will make huge strides on the defensive end this year. I'm excited. Playoffs here we come!

i dunno. we won 22 last year but were pretty close in quite a few of them. theres no reason not to believe guys like derozen/jj/ed/amir and even bargs won't be better this year. throw in a new coach and the team finally playing some defense (how much we'll see) and i think mid 20's is a good number.

the mixture of youth getting better and guys on 1 year deals trying to market themselves is pretty enticing. our bench is probably the best its been in recent years.

Raptors will win 34-36 games, and make the playoffs. I believe we have a better team than last year, we have a better coach than last year, we will be a better defending team, and our young core have all come in stronger, and more mature. Look for the raptors to surprise a lot of teams.

I like this mix of youth and veteran leadership, its exactly what our young core needed, we have true centers on our team for the first time in a while, I think we will make huge strides on the defensive end this year. I'm excited. Playoffs here we come!

P.S. Raptors Are Stacked.

36 wins is like 44 wins in a regular season. You think the Raptors are going to improve by as many as 22 wins, which would be one of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history (top 10, I believe), would give them the fourth most wins in franchise history and all without adding one player that is likely to play more than 15 mpg?

36 wins is like 44 wins in a regular season. You think the Raptors are going to improve by as many as 22 wins, which would be one of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history (top 10, I believe), would give them the fourth most wins in franchise history and all without adding one player that is likely to play more than 15 mpg?

Yes, I am expecting the raptors to be 1 game above .500 as they have added a new coaching staff, have a young core that is maturing, and getting stronger, and have improved their defense by adding 5 players who are strong defenders to their team.

They have a deeper bench than last year, I think we will see improved play from all of our young players (davis, amir, bayless, derozan, bargnani, johnson), I also think that people are underestimating the potential effects of an improved defensive team under this new head coach.

I dont think 1 game over .500 for this team is out of the realm of reason, look at a team like Indiana they snuck into the playoffs last year, I dont really think they had a much better team than us. Look at Philadelphia the only difference between their team in 2010 and their team in 2009 was a coaching change that resulted in the team buying into defense.

Me and SuperRaptors are very optimistic. I don't think we'll make the playoffs this year but i expect big things from this team in the coming seasons. I want to see this team discussed regularly on NBA gametime, i want to shut up those americans who think we don't deserve a team up here. We will prove a lot of people wrong in the coming seasons

One year of maturity/experience, more veteran leadership, more defensive accountability which will lead to a few more stops, more experienced depth on the bench. I'm sticking with my 25 wins and 41 losses record.

Just because we make the playoffs doesn't mean it's a given that we'll have an All-Star.

Take last season for example: Who was the All-Star on the Indiana Pacers?

Well, although he wasn't an All Star last year, Danny Granger is their All-Star. Besides, the Pacers were a much deeper and more veteran team than the Raptors, so my thinking is that is the Raptors make the playoffs, it's because someone has suddenly become an All-Star. Otherwise the talent level is simply not there.